Chapter 1058 Rolls-Royce Tastes the Sweetness

Chapter 1058 Rolls-Royce tastes the sweetness

Later in the day.

France, Toulouse.

Compared with the "little troubles" discussed by Chang Haonan and Liu Yongquan about business jets and early warning aircraft, what is about to happen here will have a more profound impact on the global aviation manufacturing industry -

The Airbus A380 has completed the basic design and will soon begin production of the first prototype.

But before that, there's one important thing to be sure of.

So what type of aviation engine will be used for this prototype numbered MSN001, or in other words, all five prototypes MSN001-MSN005.

Trent 900 or GP7200?

Although, for large passenger aircraft using a wing-mounted engine layout, the engine model will not have a big impact on the aircraft design.

However, when it comes to specific production, there are still differences in details such as engine nacelles, wing mounting lugs, and FADEC systems, so the power plan for each aircraft must be decided before the order is confirmed.

In order to ensure production continuity, the power of the five prototypes and the first mass-produced machine will be the same.

In other words, for Airbus, this choice will not only affect the subsequent test flight progress of the entire A380 project, but also determine the order of aircraft delivery and the evaluation of the first users.

Therefore, it must not be taken lightly.

Of course, such a major matter cannot be discussed in a meeting among the three parties.

In other words, letting the two competitors Rolls-Royce and Engine Alliance sit together is a very abstract idea in itself.

After all, whether it is Trent 900 or GP7200, formal testing has not started yet.

Even if the two sides don't fight, it will definitely turn into a pie-drawing contest in the end.

That would be meaningless.

Therefore, Party A can only send representatives to learn about the situation from the two suppliers before making a final decision.

Even so, it is still necessary to consider how credible the commitment given by Party B is.

After all, the A380 has already blown out the goal of first flight in 2005 and operation in 2007.

If the power aspect lags behind, even the gods will not be able to save it.

The terrible thing is that judging from the previous situation, the probability of this risk becoming a reality is getting higher and higher——

GP7200 is a new model that was launched in 2001.

Although the Engine Alliance has repeatedly promised that the first flight can be achieved before the end of 2004, the credibility is still doubtful.

Although the Trent 900 is two years earlier, and the overall design is derived from the mature Trent 800, it seems to be a safer choice.

However, in order to compete with the GP7200, which sells quietness, it quite radically adopts a series of new technologies in the turbine structure.

Hope to win more orders with low fuel consumption.

However, contrary to expectations, the radical design brought higher technical risks.

Last year, there were also rumors that the combustion chamber design might be revised to reduce the temperature in front of the turbine.

Not only will the construction period be affected, but performance will inevitably be reduced.

This is quite critical for the evaluation of the first users.

For this reason, Charles Champion, chief operating officer of the A380 project, has been worried for a long time.

The two engine suppliers even regarded him as a key breakthrough target.

For example, today, he needs to receive a group of visitors from Rolls-Royce.

Nominally, he hopes to visit the assembly workshop in Toulouse, but in fact, Champine knows with his toes that this must be a routine public relations operation...

Of course, the other party is one of the core suppliers of Airbus after all. As the chief operating officer, he still has to go and receive him even if he bites the bullet.

…

However, when Champion, who was full of anger, saw the person coming, he couldn't help but be stunned.

He knew the person leading the team.

And I have been in contact with him many times in the past.

Tim Purdy.

Deputy Director of the Trent 900 Technical Team.

However, Champine, who had stayed up for several nights in a row, was still a little confused.

After seeing an old acquaintance, his first reaction was--

Why was he transferred to the public relations department?

Of course, Bodie's future and destiny have nothing to do with him.

However, a sudden change in a core position such as deputy project director is likely to mean huge problems for the entire project.

This is completely unacceptable to the A380.

So, after Bodi came forward and greeted Champine warmly, he heard the other party leaning into his ear and whispering in a sneaky tone:

"Timmy, did something happen?"

"Why are you not in the Trent 900 R&D team?"

The first round of quality and the second consecutive round directly confused Bodi who was in high spirits.

He even forgot to take back the hand he was holding.

After being stunned for a while, he asked in confusion:

"When was I no longer part of the R&D team?"

"But they..."

Champine gestured behind the other party with a wink.

A group of people dressed clearly like a public relations team.

Furthermore, technicians who are serious about aviation development will be sick from spending all day in the workshop, and they will not make such a non-nutritious request as "visiting the assembly workshop".

Fortunately, Bodi had guessed at this time that the other party probably just misunderstood his purpose.

So he immediately explained:

"I just don't want to make too much noise. Most of them are from our R&D team. You know...it's a critical stage and needs to be kept secret."

Champine, who realized that he had made a big mistake, was a little embarrassed and had no choice but to pat his bright forehead:

"Okay...I haven't had much rest these past two days, so I'm a little confused..."

Then he changed the topic very smoothly:

"You just said that the 'majority' is your people, that means..."

“And of course the commercial and legal teams.”

Having said this, Bodi couldn't help but straighten his back:

"In fact, that's the main reason why I came to visit today."

"Um?"

At this time, Champin's remaining sleepiness was finally thrown out of the sky, and he suddenly became energetic:

"Is it related to the progress of Trent 900?"

Since Luo Luo has brought a full team of people here, it means that they believe that there is a high probability of achieving a breakthrough at the contract level.

Regardless of whether it is really possible or not, since the other party has such confidence, he must have made some major progress.

Bodi showed a confident smile:

"Yes, we will discuss it in detail later."

Champine made a prompt decision:

"The conference room on the top floor is still vacant, absolutely reliable..."

However, before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Bodi raising his hand:

"No need."

"Just follow the normal procedures for receiving the public relations team and take us around the workshop."

Obviously, the explanation about low-key just now is not just lip service...

The group of people soon arrived at the ready assembly workshop.

Because the production of the first prototype has just begun and is far from the final assembly stage, the workstations reserved for the A380 here are still somewhat empty.

Only some background boards and promotional materials such as banners were left.

It should be used for the celebration ceremony when the official final assembly is completed.

"Mr. Champion..."

However, as soon as Bodi started to speak half a sentence, his voice suddenly stopped——

He noticed one of the boards out of the corner of his eye.

There are about a dozen national flags painted on it.

Of course, this is not surprising for a multi-national project like the A380.

The meaning is also easy to understand.

It is the country that participated in the core tasks of the development and production of this model.

But here's the thing.

There was a dazzling red color on it...

There was a thunder in Bodi's mind, which almost made him lose his balance and fall to the ground.

"Mr. Purdy?"

Champine, who hadn't heard what was going on for a long time, turned around in confusion and saw Bodie staring straight in a certain direction, not knowing what he was thinking.

"Why is there a Chinese national flag?"

Bodie asked with some difficulty.

For a moment, he even thought that the matter of Trent 900 looking for China as a second-tier supplier had been leaked.

Champine didn't know the twists and turns here, so he just felt a little confused. He frowned and explained:

"Since 1998, Airbus's extreme environment simulation laboratory has been set up in Chengdu, China. They have participated in the anti-icing and lightning protection design of the A380... Of course, this part of the work does not account for much. Putting the Chinese flag here is mainly to take care of the market over there... What's wrong? "

"No...it's nothing."

Bodi shook his head and breathed a long sigh of relief:

"Back to business."

"We at Rolls-Royce have officially confirmed that the Trent 900 will deliver the first prototype for test flight before March 2004. We hope that you can cooperate with our production schedule and prepare the air test platform in advance. "

In fact, Airbus has an A340-300 with the left wing inboard engine removed, which is specially used for testing new aviation engines and does not require so-called "advance preparation."

The reason why Bodi said this was to target his competitors.

After all, there is only one test platform, which is used by the Trent 900. Then the GP7200 will either have to wait, or it will have to ask Boeing for help.

It’s always one step at a time, one step at a time.

By then, even if Airbus wants to show favoritism, it will be impossible.

Second time...

It’s also for the show’s effect.

You know, in the past two years, Airbus has revealed its devilish nature in order to ensure the first flight schedule.

Both Rolls-Royce and the Engine Alliance have suffered a lot because of the progress.

I feel proud today.

Moreover, in order to get rid of the suspicion of trying to make a big pie, Bodi specially added at the end:

"In fact, the production of parts for this test machine has started at the end of last year, and is now about to enter the final assembly stage. However, in order to keep it confidential, the progress has not been disclosed."

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Champine's whole body shook.

"2004...March?"

The latter's eyes widened slightly.

Established companies like Rolls-Royce are always bragging about PPT, but it is still impossible to fool around with prototypes.

Therefore, entering the final assembly, this is a clear time point.

It is completely different from the empty talk in the past.

However, out of caution, Champine still asked:

"Why is the progress suddenly so fast?"

"Because we... uh... have obtained a new technology, there is no need to modify the plan and we can directly put it into production according to the original design."

Bodi's back straightened up.

Although he also thought that it would be a bit embarrassing for Rolls-Royce to find China to manufacture its core products.

He also worried that there would be quality risks in the parts produced by China.

He also struggled with whether choosing suppliers outside the West would affect user reputation...

But at this moment.

None of it matters.

It smells so good!